December 17, 2009

My ten favorite albums of the ’00s

By: Sonny Bunch

Assuming iTunes is to be believed, anyway. These are the albums I’ve listened to the most over the last ten years. Or, at least, in the 5 years since I got my first iPod. These are listed in no particular order, and is not a judgment on the “best” albums of the decade, per se. They’re just what I listened to most often. I almost feel like this is oversharing, but whatever. Isn’t that what blogs are for?

“Is This It,” The Strokes — This is the only album that I bought after illicitly downloading songs from it off of Napster (a practice I stopped during my first year of college after realizing that hey, this is stealing). It still holds up, almost a decade later.

“Consolers of the Lonely,” The Raconteurs — “Carolina Drama,” the closing song on the second album from Jack White’s second band, is the best piece of storytelling in music I’ve heard since early Springsteen. I have an idea for an HBO series that takes song stories — “Incident of 57th St.,” “Rocky Raccoon,” etc. — and showcases talented directors adapting them for the small screen. I imagine acquiring the rights to the music of musicians like Springsteen and the Beatles would be prohibitively expensive, though.

“Second Stage Turbine Blade,” Coheed and Cambria — I celebrate the band’s entire catalogue. It was hard to choose which just one album for this list. Haters hate, but I love these guys. Once an excellent live band, I’m afraid Claudio’s voice is deteriorating.

“De-Loused in the Comatorium,” The Mars Volta — Best prog rock album of the decade. Best experienced from start to finish with decent headphones whilst laying down on a couch staring upwards. Empty your mind of thoughts and make no attempt to decipher the lyrics. Treat the vocals like another instrument. Trust me on this one.

“The Hazards of Love,” The Decemberists — Downloaded this album and listened to it about ten times in a four day stretch (a large portion of which was spent on a bus between NYC and DC). Couldn’t get enough of the baroque stylings. Bought two other Decemberists albums and didn’t much care for them, which is the opposite reaction most people had. Whatever. This is my list.

“Hot Fuss,” The Killers — My favorite pop rock of the decade, hands down. “Mr. Brightside” remains one of my favorite pop songs of the decade. I do think “Sam’s Town” is underrated and gets a bad rap, but it’s not nearly as good of an album, top to bottom, as “Hot Fuss.”

“Alligator,” The National — “Secret Meeting” and “Mr. November” is the best opening/closing duo on any album I’ve bought in the last decade.

“Between the Heart and the Synapse,” The Receiving End of Sirens — I’m still bitter this (now-defunct) band didn’t get any traction with this album. I really, really dig this album; every once in a while I’ll give it a listen and think “Goddammit. Why couldn’t this have broken through?” Alas.

“Carnavas,” The Silversun Pickups — Had a very tough time choosing between this and “Swoon.” I bought them within days of each other and they’ve become pretty much interchangeable in my head. I ended up going with “Carnavas” because of “Common Reactor” and “Dream At Tempo 119,” probably. James Poulos’s objections to the band notwithstanding, these are two very, very solid albums. Especially if you were into the Smashing Pumpkins as a kid.

“Harmonies for the Haunted,” Stellastarr* — Another band that should be bigger than it is. You simply must give this album a listen when you get the chance.

Honorable mentions:

“The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

“Graduation,” Kanye West

“In Your Honor,” The Foo Fighters

“Bleed American,” Jimmy Eat World

“Leaving Through the Window,” Something Corporate (Screw you; piano pop rules.)